Statistical analysis of bending fatigue life data using Weibull

Transcription

Statistical analysis of bending fatigue life data using Weibull
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Materials
& Design
Materials and Design 29 (2008) 1170–1181
www.elsevier.com/locate/matdes
Statistical analysis of bending fatigue life data using Weibull
distribution in glass-fiber reinforced polyester composites
_
Raif Sakin a, Irfan
Ay
b
b,*
a
Edremit Technical Vocational School of Higher Education, Balikesir University, Edremit, Turkey
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering and Architecture Faculty, Balikesir University, 10145 Balikesir, Turkey
Received 19 January 2007; accepted 16 May 2007
Available online 2 June 2007
Abstract
The bending fatigue behaviors were investigated in glass fiber-reinforced polyester composite plates, made from woven-roving with
four different weights, 800, 500, 300, and 200 g/m2, random distributed glass-mat with two different weights 225, and 450 g/m2 and polyester resin. The plates which have fiber volume ratio Vf @ 44% and obtained by using resin transfer moulding (RTM) method were cut
down in directions of [0/90] and [±45]. Thus, eight different fiber-glass structures were obtained. These samples were tested in a computer aided fatigue apparatus which have fixed stress control and fatigue stress ratio [R = 1]. Two-parameter Weibull distribution function was used to analysis statistically the fatigue life results of composite samples. Weibull graphics were plotted for each sample using
fatigue data. Then, S–N curves were drawn for different reliability levels (R = 0.99, R = 0.50, R = 0.368, R = 0.10) using these data.
These S–N curves were introduced for the identification of the first failure time as reliability and safety limits for the benefit of designers.
The probabilities of survival graphics were obtained for several stress and fatigue life levels. Besides, it was occurred that RTM conditions like fiber direction, resin permeability and full infiltration of fibers are very important when composites (GFRP) have been used for
along time under dynamic loads by looking at test results in this study.
2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Glass-fiber reinforced polyester composite (GFRP); Bending fatigue; Fatigue life; Weibull distribution; Mean life; Survival life; Reliability
analysis
1. Introduction
In recent years, glass-fiber reinforced polyester (GFRP)
composite materials have developed more rapidly than metals in structural applications. They are used alternatively
instead of metallic materials because of their low density,
high strength and rigidity [1–4]. The studies on reliability of
structure depending on damage tolerance are very important
for today’s composite researchers since GFRP are used as
preferable structures in fan blades, wind turbine, in air, sea
and land transportation. Most of these materials are
subjected to cycling loading during the service conditions.
The mechanisms of composite materials under cycling load*
Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 266 612 1194; fax: +90 266 612 1257.
_ Ay).
E-mail address: ay@balikesir.edu.tr (I.
0261-3069/$ - see front matter 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.matdes.2007.05.005
ing and their fracture behaviors are really complex [1–4].
Because, anisotropy structure of GFRP materials forms three
axial local stresses in itself. Static and fatigue failures in multilayer composites contain different damage combinations like
matrix cracking, fiber–matrix debonding, ply delamination
and fiber fracture. The form of each type failure is different
depending on material properties, number of layers and loading type [3,5]. Thus, knowing the fatigue behavior under the
cyclic loading is essential for using composite materials safely
and in practical structural designs [1–4].
As it is in inhomogeneous all materials, it can be seen
great differences in static strength and fatigue life test
results among the samples in the same conditions in GFRP
composites having anisotropy structure as well. Statistical
evaluations are very important because of the different
distribution of the test results in GFRP samples. When
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great safety coefficient was used in the past, this distribution in the results was relatively unimportant. With the
development of high performance aircraft, the changeability of mechanical properties of GFRP composites has
gained great importance. Analyzing the reliability of composite materials is an inevitable need because of brittle fracture in structure and especially wide scatter of fatigue data.
Thus, for the safe application of composite materials in
industry, their fatigue data as statistically must be understood well. The statistical properties used, generally depend
on usual distribution in mean strength. But especially, Weibull distribution has more reliable values than other distributions in fatigue data evaluations from the point of
variables in life and strength parameters [3,6]. So, it has
been proved in literature that Weibull distribution will be
useful in the evaluation of fatigue data reliability in composite structures [3,6–10].
The aim of this study is to investigate the failure of fan
blades and wind turbines made by composite materials
instead of aluminum which is caused by bending fatigue
forces. And then, the test results for these composites under
reversal stress (bending) are to analysis as statistical by
using Weibull distribution. Consequently, any engineer
can use these S–N curves at the various reliability levels
for their practical applications.
Fig. 1. (a) Schematic picture of glass-fiber used and (b) arrangement of
glass-fiber.
2. Experimental procedure
2.1. Materials and test specimens
General purposive and unsaturated polyester resin, glass-mat and
woven-roving as shown in Table 1 were used for this study. In order to
obtain GFRP sample by RTM method; heated mold system was constructed [11].
The mold was sprayed with a mold release agent to facilitate the later
removal of the molding. Then one layer of glass-mat and one layer wovenroving put into the mold as shown in Fig. 1a and b. The properties of polyester resin other additive materials were prepared in accordance with
RTM as shown in Table 1. Then, the prepared mixture was injected into
the mold under pressure between 0.5–1 bar. At about 40 C, 12 h later, the
mold was opened and a plate with dimension of 310 · 600 · 3.00 mm was
removed out of the mold. In the study, the volume of glass-fiber was
3. Fatigue tests
Table 1
Composition of GFRP plates
Orthophthalic polyester resina (Neoxil CE92N8)
Styreneb (15% of matrix volume)
Cobalt naphthenateb (0.2% of matrix volume)
Methyl ethyl ketone peroxideb (MEKP) (0.7% of matrix
volume)
Reinforcement Woven-rovinga,c
Density:
2.5 g/cm3
Weight per unit area:
800, 500, 300, and 200 g/m2
Fiber direction:
[0/90] and [±45]
Matrix
Monomer
Catalyst
Hardener
Glass-mata,c
Density:
Weight per unit area:
Fiber direction:
a
b
c
(CamElyaf A.S., Turkey).
(Poliya A.S., Turkey).
(Fibroteks A.S., Turkey).
obtained at Vf @ 44% approximately. It was observed that bubbles were
confined and incomplete infiltration occurred in some layers. Incomplete
infiltrated plates were not tested and evaluated (see Fig. 2). Eight different
material combinations were obtained by cutting the plates in the direction
of [0/90] and [±45] as shown in Table 2. Fatigue test samples were prepared from these plates with dimensions of 25 · 250 · 3.00 mm as shown
in Fig. 3 [11]. By preparing samples with the dimension of
18 · 140 · 3.00 mm from the same plates according to the ASTM 790-00
three point bending tests were carried out and obtained maximum bending
strength (Table 4) [12].
Especially in the formation of S–N curves, (Figs. 7 and 10) the maximum bending strength values were considered as one cycle strength value
[11,13,14].
2.5 g/cm3
225 and 450 g/m2
Random
Fatigue samples (shown in Fig. 3) were tested in the fatigue apparatus specially designed and improved by us (see
Fig. 4) [11]. Test conditions were as follows:
Motor: 0.5 HP – 1390 rpm
Main shaft: 30 rpm (0.5 Hz)
Test frequency: 2 Hz
Temperature: room
Control: stress (load)
Loading ratio: R = 1
Maximal number of cycle: 1 million
The experimental conditions of the rotating fatigue tests
were stress controlled flexural loading with a 30 rpm rotating speed. The maximum stress was applied on specimen
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Infiltration (medium)
Infiltration (well)
Infiltration at the
corners is so weak.
(White zones)
Fig. 2. Infiltration ratio in some laminates.
Table 2
GFRP sample groups and their structures (Vf @ 44%)
Group
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
a
Fiber direction
[±45]
[±45]
[±45]
[±45]
[0/90]
[0/90]
[0/90]
[0/90]
Woven-roving
Glass-mat
800 g/m2
500 g/m2
300 g/m2
200 g/m2
225 g/m2
450 g/m2
3a
–
–
–
3
–
–
–
–
4
–
–
–
4
–
–
–
–
5
–
–
–
5
–
–
–
–
7
–
–
–
7
4
4
4
8
4
4
4
8
–
1
2
–
–
1
2
–
Indicates number of layers in the sample.
Fig. 3. (a) Fatigue sample dimensions and (b) sample connection position.
twice during one revolution (horizontal positions of a specimen), it might be logical to count two cycles for one revolution. Thus, the frequency of the rotating fatigue tests in
this study was considered as 2 Hz [13]. The samples have
been affected by lift and drag forces during the rotation
in this fatigue test. Because of lower rotating speed, the
effects of these forces were negligible. For loading the calculated weight to the specimens, steel disks, which had various dimensions and thicknesses (i.e. various weights), were
used. Bending stresses have been only caused by the
weights have been accepted as effective [11,13]. During
the test, when the sample is horizontal position (0
and180), maximum stress is occurred. The absolute values
of these stresses are equal to each other (rmax = rmin).
During the rotation at 0 while the upper fibers are subjected to tension, the lower fiber are subjected to compression. When the sample position is 180, upper fibers are
subjected to compression and the lower fibers are subjected
to tension. Thus, this stage was tension-compression fully
reversed. In this situation fatigue stress ratio is R = 1.
The pictures of samples broken result of the fatigue test
are shown in Fig. 5. Fiber-free bearings shows starting
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Fig. 4. (a) Front view and (b) left-side view. Schematic view of multi-specimen and fixed stress bending fatigue test apparatus.
point of the fatigue crack (Fig. 5b). This can also be considered as the weakest part of the sample. As the fatigue crack
has occurred in the weakest part, matrix (polyester) and
fiber (glass-fiber) separate from each other and the crack
grows until the fiber breaks down. The weakest part in
fiber–matrix interface is fiber-free bearings and dry fibers
(not infiltrated) [15]. These samples have been not tested
in this study. This condition is one of the most important
points that should be taken into account. Transverse
matrix- fiber separation generally starts at the upper fibers.
The rigidity and flexibility of the upper and lower fibers
decrease at the highest levels of the cycling bending process
(tension-compression). Thus, the value of elasticity module
will reduce by passage of time under cycling loading [16].
On the other hand, the separation between longitudinal
fiber and matrix is similar to the separation in the transverse matrix cracks [16].
4. Statical analysis of fatigue life data
4.1. Theory of Weibull distribution
Weibull distribution is being used to model extreme values such as failure times and fatigue life. Two popular forms
of this distribution are two- and three-parameter Weibull
distributions. The probability density function (PDF) of
two-parameter distribution has been indicated in the following Eq. (1). This PDF Equation is the most known definition of two-parameter Weibull distribution [2,3,17,18]
b xb1 ðaxÞb
f ðxÞ ¼
e
a P 0; b P 0
ð1Þ
a a
where a and b is the scale, shape parameter. The advantages of two-parameter Weibull distribution are as follows
[3]:
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Fig. 5. (a) The pictures of the samples broken as a result of the fatigue tests and (b) front view of cracked zone as a result of fatigue (Group: E,
zoom: 40X). Pictures of GFRP samples.
It can be explain with a simple function and applied easily.
It is used frequently in the evaluation of fatigue life of
composites.
Its usage is easy having present graphics and simple calculation methods.
It gives some physical rules concerning failure when the
slope of the Weibull probability plots taken into account.
If PDF Equation is integrated, cumulative density function (CDF) in Eq. (2) is obtained. Eq. (3) derives from Eq.
(2).
x b
a
F f ðxÞ ¼ 1 eð Þ
x b
a
ð2Þ
1 F f ðxÞ ¼ eð Þ
F s ðxÞ ¼ 1 F f ðxÞ
ð3Þ
ð4Þ
Rx ¼ 1 P x
ð5Þ
In the above equations;
x
b
a
Ff(x)
Fs(x)
variable (usually life). Failure cycles in this study
(Nf),
shape parameter or Weibull slope,
characteristic life or scale parameter,
probability of failure (Px),
probability of survival or reliability (Rx).
If the natural logarithm of both sides of the Eq. (3) is
taken, the following Eq. (6) can be written.
1
ln ln
¼ b lnðxÞ b lnðaÞ
ð6Þ
1 F f ðxÞ
When the Eq. (6) is rearranged as linear equation, Y = ln
(ln(1/(1 Ff (x)))), X = ln (x), m = b and c = b (ln(a))
is written. Hence, a linear regression model in the form
of Eq. (7) is obtained
Y ¼ mX þ c
a¼e
ð7Þ
ðc=bÞ
ð8Þ
In Eq. (2), when x = a,
F f ðxÞ ¼ 1 eð1Þ
b
F f ðxÞ ¼ 1 0:368
F f ðxÞ ¼ P x ¼ 0:632 ¼ 63:2% is obtained:
According to Eq. (8) characteristic life (a) is the time or
the number of cycles at which 63.2% of the population is
expected to fail. The life of critical parts (roller bearing,
blade etc.) designed for fatigue is indicated as P10, P1,
P0.1 for lower failure probabilities [19]. In this study, as
shown in Fig. 10, S–N plots were drawn for the values of
P1, P50, P63.2, P90 (or R99, R50, R36.8, R10) and this study
also guides the designers. N P x or N Rx are values of life indicating X% failure probability and can be calculated from
Eq. (9). The median life values (50% life) can be calculated
Eq. (10) or can be read from the graphics in Fig. 11. In this
study, survival graphics drawn for each stress value of
GFRP samples is given in Fig. 11.
N P x ¼ N Rx ¼ a ðð lnðRx ÞÞ1=b Þ
N P 50 ¼ N R50 ¼ a ðð lnð2ÞÞ
1=b
Þ
ð9Þ
ð10Þ
Mean life (mean time to failure = MTTF = N0), standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of
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R. Sakin, I.
2. Serial number was given for each value
(i = 1, 2, 3, . . . , n).
3. Each value for failure probability was used in Bernard’s Median Rank formula given in Eq. (14).
two-parameter Weibull distribution were calculated from
the following Equations [3,18,20,21]
MTTF ¼ N 0 ¼ a Cð1 þ 1=bÞ
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
SD ¼ a Cð1 þ 2=bÞ C2 ð1 þ 1=bÞ
qffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi
2
SD a Cð1 þ 2=bÞ C ð1 þ 1=bÞ
CV ¼
¼
N0
a Cð1 þ 1=bÞ
1175
ð11Þ
ð12Þ
MR ¼
ð13Þ
where (C) is gamma function.
4.
4.2. Application of Weibull distribution
5.
The drawing of Weibull line for X and Y, the parameter
of Weibull distribution and reliability analysis processes
can be carried out by software such as Microsoft Excel
and SPSS [17,22]. Microsoft Excel has been used in this
study. The following processes were carried out to draw
Weibull lines and obtain parameters.
6.
7.
8.
1. The number of failure cycle corresponding to each
stress was located successively.
i 0:3
n þ 0:4
ð14Þ
where i is failure serial number and n is total test
number of samples [22–24].
ln(ln(1/(1 MR))) values were calculated for each
cycle value (Y-axis).
ln(cycle) values were calculated for each cycle value
(X-axis).
Only the data given for group-A samples as example
in Table 3 was transferred to Microsoft Excel. For
regression analysis, the Analysis ToolPak Add-In
was loaded into Microsoft Excel [11,22].
The graphics of ln(cycle) and ln(ln(1/(1 MR))) values were drawn as shown in Fig. 6.
Y = mX + c linear equation given in the Eq. (7) was
obtained in the most reasonable form from this
graphics.
Table 3
Summarized Weibull values of GFRP samples for Group-A [11]
Stress amplitude, Sa (MPa)
Cycle
360
736
922
1010
1016
106.728
.
.
.
.
.
.
960,633
979,766
1,088,925
1,108,771
1,170,104
50.257
Rank
Med. Rnk. MR
In(cycle) (X-axis)
ln(ln(1/(1 MR))) (Y-axis)
1
2
3
4
5
.
.
.
1
2
3
4
5
0.129630
0.314815
0.500000
0.685185
0.870370
.
.
.
0.129630
0.314815
0.500000
0.685185
0.870370
5.886104
6.601230
6.826545
6.917706
6.923629
.
.
.
13.775348
13.795069
13.900702
13.918763
13.972603
1.974459
0.972686
0.366513
0.144767
0.714455
.
.
.
1.974459
0.972686
0.366513
0.144767
0.714455
106.728 MPa
85.336 MPa
-1.8
Y = 5.981X
.092X
- 16.1
43
-1.5
Y=2
-1.3
Y = 9.008X - 91
.318
-1.0
Y=1
-0.8
.921x
.204X
-0.5
Y = 11.800X - 164.189
68.895 MPa
- 26.2
55
- 80.715
0.0
-0.3
Y = 4.404X - 49
.18
76.264 MPa
- 15.1
03
0.3
Y=2
ln(ln(1/(1-Median Rank)))
0.5
61.954 MPa
55.751 MPa
50.257 MPa
-2.0
-2.3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
ln(Nf)
Fig. 6. Weibull lines for GFRP samples in Group-A.
15
b
947
1.0
0.8
a
2.204
.
.
.
.
.
.
1,103,609
11.800
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Table 4
According to test results, Weibull parameters for each stress amplitude [11]
Stress amplitude,
Sa (MPa)
Characteristic life,
(a) (cycle)
Shape
Weibull mean
parameter (b) life (cycle)
Group: A
203.120
106.728
85.336
76.268
68.895
61.954
55.751
50.257
1
947
4472
25,270
70,756
282,538
725,345
1103 609
1.000
2.204
1.921
9.008
4.404
2.092
5.981
11.800
1
839
3967
23,930
64,490
250,249
672,801
1,056,907
Group: B
258.288
116.764
93.788
84.403
76.105
68.653
61.550
57.922
1
917
8204
60,613
186,720
468,909
779,735
1,253,868
1.000
5.112
4.015
6.229
2.730
4.552
5.091
4.313
1
843
7438
56,348
166,111
428,201
716,678
1,141,429
Group: C
278.313
128.039
103.769
93.235
84.152
75.485
68.028
63.378
61.221
1
1422
8184
21,058
64,604
162,344
351,042
915,776
1,262,614
1.000
3.597
2.533
3.766
3.797
4.628
2.773
10.639
9.156
1
1281
7264
19,022
58,386
148,392
312,474
873,466
1,196,578
Group: D
265.468
111.502
97.072
87.219
78.800
70.792
63.757
57.411
53.070
1
1182
4125
17,128
44,060
192,165
459,053
807,018
1,556,050
1.000
1.719
1.678
2.825
3.066
1.830
2.674
22.523
4.324
1
1053
3684
15,257
39,383
170,759
408,096
787,848
1,416,720
Group: E
353.540
163.271
129.452
106.908
96.166
91.170
88.734
86.640
84.250
1
1233
5971
49,840
269,491
617,135
887,796
1,109,131
1,532,755
1.000
1.864
3.988
4.088
2.308
10.157
6.363
14.472
4.910
1
1095
5412
45,231
238,755
587,497
826,281
1,069,822
1,405,857
Group: F
375.200
151.934
123.852
111.613
100.138
90.322
81.316
73.201
1
3195
9534
39,695
216,224
349,306
670,939
1,053,763
1.000
2.532
2.047
2.388
4.479
6.519
5.040
10.309
1
2836
8446
35,185
197,266
325,527
616,318
1,003,780
Table 4 (continued)
Stress amplitude,
Sa (MPa)
Characteristic life,
(a) (cycle)
Shape
Weibull mean
parameter (b) life (cycle)
Group: G
348.198
147.771
119.308
107.214
96.241
86.771
77.882
73.941
1
1354
16,786
51,365
139,934
254,726
481,137
1,244,927
1.000
1.351
3.177
2.322
2.227
8.218
7.360
4.278
1
1241
15,029
45,510
123,935
240,198
451,235
1,132,769
Group: H
311.504
145.837
117.274
105.754
95.132
85.619
76.938
69.377
64.270
1
2011
9379
41,617
77,664
175,290
384,464
785,661
1,595,150
1.000
1.388
3.211
25.650
4.330
3.669
4.135
9.065
6.289
1
1835
8402
40,741
70,716
158,117
349,141
744,236
1,483,682
9. b and c values were obtained by linear regression
application (least squares method). m = b parameter
was obtained directly from the slope of the line.
10. a parameter was obtained from the Eq. (8)
11. The mean fatigue life corresponding to each stress
was calculated from Eq. (11), and the variation coefficients were calculated from Eq. (13). The difference
between mean fatigue life and the variation coefficients were given in Fig. 9.
12. The above processes were carried out in order for all
samples group and Weibull graphics and parameters
were obtained a and b parameters obtained are
shown in Table 4.
The results of the processes carried out above have been
summarized in Table 3. Example Weibull graphics for each
stress value has been given in Fig. 6 [11].
5. Results and discussion
5.1. The S–N curves
106 cycles which is corresponding to fatigue strength has
been taken into account as a failure criterion in the evaluation of fatigue tests [11,13,25]. The S–N curves obtained for
eight different average fatigue life of GFRP samples have
been shown in Fig. 7. Power Function has been used in
Eq. (15) for the evaluation of fatigue test data [2,3,6,11,26].
S a ¼ a ðN f Þ
b
In this equation;
Sa
stress amplitude (fatigue strength),
ð15Þ
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R. Sakin, I.
1177
Fig. 7. S–N curves for eight different samples.
Nf
number of cycle (fatigue life),
a and b are constants (It’s given for each material group in
Fig. 7).
Table 5
The stress (fatigue strength) values and decrease rate in 106 cycles
Group
Stress amplitude, Sa (MPa)
Decrease rate (%)
E
A
F
B
G
C
H
D
84.210
52.435
77.022
60.333
74.167
61.400
69.544
55.644
37.7
21.7
17.2
20.0
The effects on fatigue strength are obtained from S–N
curves for each GFRP group. They are fiber direction,
weight per unit area, maximum stress values corresponding
to 106 cycles and decrease rate in maximum stress amplitude values of fibers having same weight per unit area
but in different directions. These effects have been shown
in Table 5 and Fig. 8.
We can make the following comment for the directions
of [0/90], [±45] in woven-roving composites which have
800, 500, 300 and 200 g/m2 weight per unit area and having
the same volume (Vf @ 44%) from Table 5 and Fig. 8.
The change in fatigue strength corresponding to 106
cycles depends on fiber direction and weight per unit area
can be seen in Table 5 and Fig. 8. The strength in the direction of [0/90] is higher. On the other hand, the strength
Fig. 8. The relationship of stress amplitude, weight per unit area and fiber direction.
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R. Sakin, I.
1178
0.8
A
B
Coefficient of Variation, C.V.
0.7
C
0.6
D
E
0.5
F
0.4
G
H
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
1000
10000
100000
1000000
10000000
Mean Fatigue Life (Cycles), No
Fig. 9. Effect of mean fatigue life on the coefficient of variation, CV.
has decreased suddenly because of existing of the shear
stresses formed in weak interfaces on planes at [±45]
and fibers at the direction of [±45] have had to carry over
load nearly 1.9 times more than that of the fibers at the
direction of [0/90]. Thus, anisotropy property between
the samples of groups E&A is dominant reduced fatigue
strength at the rate of 37.7%. Because of high resin permeability of composite having groups E&A woven-roving,
infiltrations is better but the weak matrix cross-section is
bigger than that of composite having groups F&B, G&C
and H&D [11,27].
5.2. Scatter in the fatigue life results
CV values for fatigue life of GFRP samples have calculated by using Eq. (13). Coefficient of variation (CV)
graphics which is calculated by Eq. (11) corresponding to
mean life (MTTF) has been shown in Fig. 9. According
to these results, scatter in the fatigue life values has the widest between 103–104 and 105–106. The first widest scatter
was observed at the life range 103–104 cycles for GFRP
samples because of the larger defects in structure at high
stress level at the beginning of test. But later, the second
widest scatter was observed at the life range 105–106 cycles.
Because, the small defects in structure reach a critical value
at the different stress level. This trend for different sample
group is extremely important for the application and
design of GFRP structure [3].
5.3. Reliability analysis of fatigue results and bounds for the
S–N curves
probability of survival [3,28]. The probability of survival
graphics corresponding to each stress values of GFRP
samples has been shown in Fig. 11. These graphics have
been drawn by using Eqs. (3) and (4). The probability
50% survival of samples from these diagrams is intersected by drawing horizontal line from Y-axis, hence the
probability can be found in which cycle value it has.
For example as shown in the diagram in Fig. 11, while
the stress is 50.257 MPa and failure cycles are 1069858
for group-A samples, these values are 86.640 MPa and
1081394 cycles for group-E samples corresponding to
50% Reliability.
The bending fatigue test results of GFRP materials
have been scattered in a great scale because of their
anisotropy structures and semi-brittle behaviours. Safe
life = Reliability is an important parameter for design in
this type of structure. Reliability means that ‘‘a material
can be used without failure’’. The definition of reliability
in engineering has been shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Fig. 10
shows S–N curves belong to several reliability levels of
GFRP samples. As S–N curves belong to average values
for each sample in Fig. 7 and the curves having 50% reliability in Fig. 10 are closer to each other, the S–N curve
obtained from the average fatigue data in scattered
position can be accepted as 50% reliability of survival as
well. The S–N curves have been given belonging to four
different safe levels (R = 0.99, R = 0.50, R = 0.368,
R = 0.10) in order, in Fig. 10. These S–N curves provide
possibility of prediction reliability fatigue life needed to
designer.
6. Conclusions
The term Reliability is used for the probability of functional performance of a part under current service condition and in definite time period. This also is known as the
In this study, the following results have been
obtained.
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R. Sakin, I.
1179
Fig. 10. The S–N curves for different reliable levels (A–B–C–D–E–F–G–H).
(1) It has been observed that the lowest fatigue strength
is in group-A, the highest fatigue strength is in
group-E.
(2) The S–N curves depending on mean life values for all
groups of GFRP composites have been presented in
order practicing engineers could find them useful.
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_ Ay / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 1170–1181
R. Sakin, I.
100%
106.73 MPa
85.34 MPa
76.27 MPa
68.90 MPa
61.95 MPa
55.75 MPa
50.25 MPa
Probability of Survival
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
100%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
10%
0%
100
163.271 MPa
129.452 MPa
106.908 MPa
96.166 MPa
91.170 MPa
88.734 MPa
86.640 MPa
84.250 MPa
90%
Probability of Survival
1180
1000
10000
100000
1000000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
100%
0%
100
10000000
10000
100000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
1000000
100%
116.764 MPa
90%
1000
151.934 MPa
90%
93.788 MPa
123.852 MPa
111.613 MPa
Probability of Survival
76.105 MPa
68.653 MPa
70%
61.550 MPa
57.922 MPa
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
Probability of Survival
84.403 MPa
80%
10%
0%
100
80%
100.138 MPa
90.322 MPa
70%
81.316 MPa
73.201 MPa
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
1000
10000
100000
1000000
0%
100
10000000
1000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
128.039 MPa
103.769 MPa
93.235 MPa
84.152 MPa
75.485 MPa
68.028 MPa
63.378 MPa
61.221 MPa
Probability of Survival
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
119.308 MPa
107.214 MPa
80%
96.241 MPa
86.771 MPa
70%
77.882 MPa
73.941 MPa
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
1000
10000
100000
1000000
0%
100
10000000
1000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
10000
100000
1000000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
100%
111.502 MPa
97.072 MPa
87.219 MPa
78.800 MPa
70.792 MPa
63.757 MPa
57.411 MPa
53.070 MPa
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
20%
10%
10%
1000
10000
100000
1000000
10000000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
10000000
145.837 MPa
117.274 MPa
105.754 MPa
95.132 MPa
85.619 MPa
76.938 MPa
69.377 MPa
64.270 MPa
90%
Probability of Survival
100%
Probability of Survival
10000000
147.771 MPa
90%
10%
0%
100
10000
100000
1000000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
100%
Probability of Survival
100%
0%
100
10000000
0%
100
1000
10000
100000
1000000
10000000
Fatigue Life (Cycles), Ln(Nf)
Fig. 11. Probability of survival graphs for GFRP specimens.
(3) The most interesting result is the fatigue strength difference (37.7%) between the samples having the same
fiber weight in group E&A. Generally, this sudden
strength reduction resulting from the change of fiber
direction, in GFRP samples is a very important point
that should be taken into account in designs [11].
(4) As group E&A specimens have more resin permeability, fatigue data distribution of these samples have
less scattering because of full infiltration during
RTM. The group H&D specimens having less resin
permeability and incomplete infiltration have the
widest scatter in life values under the high stress.
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_ Ay / Materials and Design 29 (2008) 1170–1181
R. Sakin, I.
Also, they showed sudden fracture behaviors. This
criteria is extremely important in high stress and
low cycle processes.
(5) The scatter value in all sample groups has been
decreased in about 106 cycles taken as a failure criterion and the scatter values have been closer to each
other. This result is useful for designers because of
the accuracy and exact repeatability of the test in
about 106 cycles.
(6) Safe design life for brittle structured composites has
great importance. S–N curves for reliability levels as
R = 0.99, R = 0.50, R = 0.368, and R = 0.10 have
been drawn and presented for designers. These diagrams can be considered as reliability or safety limits
in identification of the first failure time of a component under any stress amplitude. Especially, the usage
of S–N curves (R = 0.99) should be advised in the
design of air-craft which have to have higher safety
and reliability.
(7) Fatigue life distribution diagrams have been obtained
by using two-parameter Weibull distribution function
for GFRP composites. The reliability percentage (%)
can be found easily corresponding to any life (cycle)
or stress amplitude from these diagrams.
Acknowledgements
The study has been partly granted by Unit of Scientific
Research Projects in Balıkesir University. Besides, the
authors thank Fibroteks Woven Co. and Glass-Fiber Co.
(S
ß isßecam) for their material and workmanship support.
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